Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Escape from and Possession of a Weapon at FCI El Reno

OKLAHOMA CITY—Yesterday JOE G. VILLAREAL, JR., 39, was sentenced by United States District Judge David Russell to serve 46 months in prison for escaping from the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) at El Reno, Oklahoma and for possession of a weapon, which is contraband at the prison, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On January 6, 2012, VILLAREAL was charged with the August 16, 2011 possession of a homemade “shank” weapon at FCI El Reno. He was previously indicted on October 18, 2011 for a prior escape from FCI El Reno where he was serving a 147 month sentence stemming from federal charges of cocaine distribution and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the Southern District of Texas. He was apprehended in the city of El Reno several hours following his escape and was returned to FCI El Reno.

In addition to being ordered to serve an additional 46 months following the remainder of his original federal sentence, VILLAREAL was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvo Mikkanen.